A Psychometric Evaluation Of 4-Point And 6-Point Likert-Type Scales In Relation To Reliability And Validity

    Authors

    L. Chang

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Appl. Psychol. Meas.

    Keywords

    LIKERT-TYPE SCALES; MULTITRAIT-MULTIMETHOD MATRIX; RELIABILITY; SCALE; OPTIONS; VALIDITY; CONFIRMATORY FACTOR-ANALYSIS; MULTITRAIT-MULTIMETHOD DATA; OF-FIT; INDEXES; RATING-SCALES; MONTE-CARLO; ITEM FORMAT; NUMBER; CATEGORIES; GOODNESS; MODELS; Social Sciences, Mathematical Methods; Psychology, Mathematical

    Abstract

    Reliability and validity of 4-point and 6-point scales were assessed using a new model-based approach to fit empirical data. Different measurement models were fit by confirmatory factor analyses of a multitrait-multimethod covariance matrix. 165 graduate students responded to nine items measuring three quantitative attitudes. Separation of method from trait variance led to greater reduction of reliability and heterotrait-monomethod coefficients for the 6-point scale than for the 4-point scale. Criterion-related validity was not affected by the number of scale points. The issue of selecting 4- versus 6-point scales may not be generally resolvable, but may rather depend on the empirical setting. Response conditions theorized to influence the use of scale options are discussed to provide directions for further research.

    Journal Title

    Applied Psychological Measurement

    Volume

    18

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-1994

    Document Type

    Article; Proceedings Paper

    Language

    English

    First Page

    205

    Last Page

    215

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:A1994QZ56000002

    ISSN

    0146-6216

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